Antonine Centre

The Antonine Centre is a Shopping Centre in the Scottish New Town of Cumbernauld. The Centre has convert|350000|sqft|m2|abbr=on of retail space including a convert|100000|sqft|m2|abbr=on Tesco Extra (in a separate building to the main centre, attached by walkways) and a convert|43000|sqft|m2|abbr=on Dunnes. The centre was expected to open sometime in May 2007 [cite web
last =
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authorlink =
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title =Welcome to Our New Sister Shopping Centre
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publisher =Cumbernauld Shopping Centre
date =
url =http://www.cumbernauldshoppingcentre.co.uk/
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accessdate =2007-05-29 ] , but instead opened on 6th June 2007 [Citation
last =
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author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
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title =Time Drags On for Centre
newspaper =Cumbernauld Today
pages =
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date =2007-05-02
url =http://www.cumbernauldtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?sectionid=961&articleid=2845869 ] , following delays caused by planning disputed over the pedestrian walkways connecting the complex to existing buildings.Citation
last =Paisley
first =Jonathan
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last2 =
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title =Walkway Hitch May Delay £40 million Shopping Complex
newspaper =Evening Times
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date =2007-04-04
url =http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1306336.0.0.php ]

Historical background

Traditionally, Cumbernauld Town Centre has been considered one of the ugliest in Europe, twice winning the Carbuncle award for the most unpleasant town centre in the country [Citation
last =Duffy
first =Judith
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Fear and Loathing in a Town Called Carbuncle
newspaper =Sunday Herald
pages =
year =
date =2005-10-23
url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20051023/ai_n15718354 ] ; in 2001 it was described as "The Kabul of the north" [Citation
last =
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title =Cumbernauld: Radiant City or Carbuncle?
newspaper =The Daily Telegraph
pages =
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date =2002-08-31
url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml;$sessionid$E0BWVVBLMBCS5QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/property/2002/08/31/pcumb31.xml&sSheet=/property/2002/08/31/ixpmain.html ] , while the entire town centre was nominated as Britain's ugliest structure in the Channel 4 programme "Demolition". This is ironic as much of the surrounding area contains highly sought after residential property and is ideally located for ease of access to the major conurbations. [Citation
last =Brown
first =Craig
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last2 =Smith
first2 =Claire
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title =Don't You Dare to Knock Our Town - We Do That Ourselves
newspaper =The Scotsman
pages =
year =
date =2007-03-08
url =http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1542&id=367742007 ]

The £40 million Antonine Centre project was launched in 1995 [cite journal
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title =Passionate About Cumbernauld
journal =Shopping Centre Magazine
volume =
issue =
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publisher =William Reed Publishing
date =2006-05-16
url =http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/999/Passionate_about_Cumbernauld.html
doi =
id =
accessdate =2007-05-29 ] as part of a deliberate plan to radically change the nature of the town centre and public perception of the town. Unfortunately, some have remarked that the new centre seems to have been designed to complement the architecture and look of the existing structures, which are so disliked by the majority of local residents.

Construction

After over ten years of delays, construction began in April 2006. [cite web
last =
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title =Rebirth for "Dismal" Town Centre
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publisher =BBC News
date =2006-04-11
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4898416.stm
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-05-29 ] North Lanarkshire council Deputy Leader Jim Smith stated that the aims of the centre were to "Bring new jobs, new opportunities, new investment and new life into Cumbernauld (and) help make sure local money stays local by encouraging people to stay in the town instead of heading for Edinburgh, Stirling or Glasgow". [cite web
last =
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title =High Level Delegation Tours £40M Shopping Centre
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publisher =Build
date =2007-05-15
url =http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=61679
format =
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accessdate =2007-05-29 ]

The building incorporates the historic clock from St Enoch railway station in Glasgow, made famous in the 1981 film "Gregory's Girl".

The former Tesco (connected to the new development by a network of walkways) was also subdivided into smaller retail units.cite web
last =
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title =New Lease of Life for Cumbernauld
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publisher =North Lanarkshire Council
date =2002
url =http://www.northlan.gov.uk/business+and+employment/local+economy/economic+information/economic+bulletin+issue+1+-+new+lease+of+life+for+cumbernauld+.html
format =
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accessdate =2007-05-29 ]

hops and projected effects on the local area

As well as the Tesco Extra and Dunnes superstores, the centre will contain a 42 other retail outlets including River Island, Next and Woolworths. It is projected that the centre will increase expenditure in the town by 84%, while total retail spending in the town is projected to rise by 166%, transforming the local economy. [cite web
last =
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title =Shopfitting begins at Cumbernauld's Antonine Shopping Centre
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publisher =Commercial Property News
date =2007-02-07
url =http://www.propertyexecutive.co.uk/2007/02/shopfitting-begins-at-cumbernaulds.html
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-05-29 ]

The centre will also contain four "civic spaces" designed for community use, and a commemorative artwork commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of the town of Cumbernauld. [cite web
last =
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title =A Summer of Celebrations in Cumbernauld
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publisher =North Lanarkshire Counci;
date =2007-04-23
url =http://www.northlan.gov.uk/your+council/news/latest+news/cumbernauld+50+celebrations.html
format =
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accessdate =2007-05-29 ]

External links

* [http://www.antoninecumbernauld.co.uk/ Antonine Cumbernauld] , developers of the Centre

References